By Gerelyn Terzo, Global AgInvesting Media
In a showing of robust demand for physical AI adoption on the farm, San Francisco-based Agtonomy has raised $18 million in an oversubscribed Series B round for its next phase of growth and autonomous platform development. Demand for the fundraising was fueled by the company’s proven commercial traction and growth potential of its AI solution for agriculture and land management. Led by venture capital firm DBL Partners, a backer of the likes of Tesla, SpaceX and Farmers Business Network, the round extended to major farmland owner Nuveen, which joined an existing investor roster featuring Autotech, Allison Transmission, Rethink Food and Black Forest Ventures.
Agtonomy enables farmers to convert their existing equipment into remotely operated, autonomous systems capable of performing tasks such as mowing, spraying, and material transport without an operator on board. The company’s software integrates sensors, GPS, and computer vision to guide machinery along exact paths, detect and evade obstacles, and maintain consistent performance on repetitive operations. Growers hold the reins from afar, giving them the option to monitor the action or jump in whenever the moment calls for a human touch on the field.
Of the agtech company’s mission, Agtonomy CEO and Co-Founder Tim Bucher was recently cited by Fast Company as saying, “We’re not trying to replace labor, we’re trying to close the labor gap.”
Proceeds from the fundraising will be directed toward advancing Agtonomy’s AI platform, driving integrations with OEM partners and scaling commercial deployments across agriculture as well as adjacent off-road industries. Agtonomy expects the capital infusion will improve AI-powered fleet intelligence and smarter workflows, paving the way for farming operations to slash labor expenses while strengthening safety and sustainability across orchards, vineyards, fields and managed green spaces.
Agtonomy’s Bucher, who grew up on a farm, stated, “Agtonomy is at an exciting inflection point as we expand our commercial footprint and bring physical AI into everyday field operations. This investment round—and the support from DBL and Nuveen—underscores confidence not only in our technology and momentum, but also in the meaningful value we are delivering in real-world commercial operations today.”
DBL Partners’ Jake Harris, who also takes a seat on Agtonomy’s board, said, “DBL seeks out mission-driven, execution-orientated companies that not only disrupt their industries, but also deliver real-world benefits. Agtonomy fits squarely into the legacy of DBL’s portfolio by ushering in the next wave of highly-scalable, customer-centric physical AI in a way that delivers tangible performance gains and cost-savings, while setting a new standard for sustainability and profitability in food production and off-road industries worldwide.”
Nuveen Head of Global Horticulture Mark Coelho commented, “Managing more than 2 million acres of farmland gives us a clear view into the pressures facing today’s operators, from labor shortages to rising operational complexity. Agtonomy’s physical AI platform addresses these real-world challenges through practical automation that works in tough environments. We believe this approach has strong applicability in agriculture and we are pleased to support Agtonomy’s continued growth.”
Earlier this year, Agtonomy deepened its collaboration with Osaka, Japan-based Kubota Corporation and Kubota North America for the commercialization of smart-agriculture solutions for specialty crops like grapes and nuts across California, Oregon and Washington. That partnership, building on a 2024 joint venture, combines Agtonomy’s automation platform and remote-operation technology with Kubota’s diesel tractors, sprayers and AI-driven camera systems to help farmers address labor shortages and sustainability challenges. Together, the companies plan to commercialize these integrated systems through Kubota’s dealer network in North America.
The content put forth by Global AgInvesting News and its parent company HighQuest Partners is intended to be used and must be used for informational purposes only. All information or other material herein is not to be construed as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Global AgInvesting and HighQuest Partners are not a fiduciary in any manner, and the reader assumes the sole responsibility of evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of any information or other content on this site.